Dicamba can drift for miles after spraying, harming non-target crops

Last year, Kade McBroom launched a non-GMO soybean processing plant in Malden, Missouri, and was optimistic about the potential to serve the fast-growing non-GMO market.

photo by CAFNRA soybean field in Missouri. Monsanto's GMO crops can tolerate sprays of dicamba, but other crops can't

But now McBroom sees a potential threat to his new business from herbicide drift sprayed on genetically modified crops. This past spring, Monsanto Co. started selling GM Roundup Ready Xtend soybean and cotton seeds to farmers in Missouri and several other states. The seeds are genetically engineered to withstand sprays of glyphosate and dicamba herbicides. The problem is that the Xtend… more

Government approves reintroduction plan in effort to save the iconic species

Due to years of illegal poaching and loss of habitat, tigers are now “functionally extinct” in Cambodia, conservationists conceded for the first time Wednesday.

Photo by LotseIndochinese tigers at Tierpark Berlin. There are now more tigers living in captivity than in the wild.

According to World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Cambodia, the last tiger seen in Cambodia’s wild was in 2007 from a hidden camera set up in the Eastern Plains Dry Forest Landscape in Mondulkiri Protected Forest.

“Today, there are no longer any breeding populations of tigers left in Cambodia, and they are therefore considered functionally extinct,” the conservation group said in a… more

Provision in TSCA reauthorization bill would undermine current litigation against Monsanto

The New York Timesreported last month that Congressional Republicans have clandestinely inserted a provision into the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reauthorization bill that will give Monsanto permanent immunity from liability for injuries caused by its toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The long awaited and grievously needed bill is now in the Conference Committee for reconciliation with a companion Senate bill. The so-called “Monsanto Rider” would shield the chemical colossus from thousands of lawsuits by cities, towns, school districts and individuals, who have been injured by exposure to PCBs.

FDA approved the genetically engineered fish for human consumption last year without mandatory labeling

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced earlier this month it would block all imports of AquaBounty’s recently approved genetically engineered (GE) salmon until the agency had determined how to label the novel product. The agency approved the salmon in October without any mandatory labeling indicating that the product is engineered with DNA from another species.

Photo by Quazie The FDA approved Aquabounty’s GE salmon in October without mandatory labeling requirements.

In December’s congressional spending bill, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski succeeded in including a provision directing the agency to develop a label for the GE salmon. Now the agency must act on that directive in… more

Retailers encourage consumers to avoid the post-Thanksgiving shopping craze and get outside instead

Black Friday is traditionally one of the biggest shopping days of the year, but this year there seems to be some backlash.

REI made waves last month when it announced that it would be closing all of its 143 retail locations, headquarters and two distribution centers on both Thanksgiving and Black Friday. All 12,000 full- and part-time employees will receive paid time off as the company encourages them to #OptOutside instead.

Photo by Miguel VieiraRetailers are encouraging people to rethink their shopping habits on Black Friday and beyond.

According to REI CEO Jerry Stritzke, the company made the decision to… more